Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Maundy Thursday
There are 3 days til Easter!
Attention!
Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine.
Click to donate today!

Daily Devotionals
Discovering Christ Day by Day
Devotional: December 11th

Resource Toolbox

Today’s Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1 -1 Timothy 1

“God hath from the beginning chosen you.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13

According to Holy Scripture, the very first work of God’s grace in saving His people was that of election. No doctrine in the Bible is more delightful and comforting than the doctrine of election. This is not a doctrine taught in a few isolated passages of Scripture. It is taught prominently throughout the Word of God.

The doctrine of election, simply stated, is the teaching that God chose some of Adam’s race to be the objects of his grace and predestinated them unto eternal salvation in Christ before the world began.

Does the Bible teach this doctrine? Yes, of course, it does! It is impossible to read the Book of God and miss the doctrine of election (Psalms 65:4; Matthew 20:28; John 15:16; Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9:11-13; Romans 11:5; Ephesians 1:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 1:2). What do these passages of Scripture teach about God’s electing grace? — At least these five things…

1. Election is in Christ. — We were chosen in him, chosen to be like him, and accepted in him before the world began. All grace is in Christ. All that God does for sinners is in Christ.

2. Election is unconditional. — God did not choose us because he “foreknew” that we would do good! He chose us because he loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), even though he “foreknew” what sinners we would be!

3. Election is unto salvation. — Election is not salvation, but there could be no salvation without it. We could never be saved had God not chosen to save us.

4. Election took place before the worlds were made. — The Lamb’s Book of Life is not being written in time. Every name that shall be found in that book when the world has been destroyed was written there before God created the universe.

5. Election is the fountain head of all grace. — Read the first chapter of Ephesians carefully. Every blessing of grace from adoption to redemption, to forgiveness, to regeneration, to the resurrection of the body, to the inheritance of the saints in glory flows freely to chosen sinners “according as” God has chosen them in Christ!

The doctrine of election declares, “Salvation is of the Lord!” It is not the will of man in time that is the determining factor in salvation, but the will of God in eternity. He declares, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy!”

Subscribe …
Get the latest devotional delivered straight to your inbox every week by signing up for the "Discovering Christ Day by Day" subscription list. Simply provide your email address below, click on "Subscribe!", and you'll receive a confirmation email from us. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your subscription to this list.
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile